Feb 25, 2019

OSIRIS-REx continues to orbit Bennu at an altitude ranging from 1.6 to 2.1 km, with an orbital period of ~62 hours. This last week, both the OLA altimeter and the MapCam camera made observations of Bennu from orbit.

On Feb. 21, the mission team gathered to watch JAXA’s Hayabusa-2 spacecraft execute its first sample collection activity at asteroid Ryugu. The OSIRIS-REx and Hayabusa-2 teams are working closely together on the two asteroid sample return missions, and the OSIRIS-REx team cheered the Japanese announcement that their attempt appeared to be a success.